Ballmer takes a shot at google
Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer criticized rival Google Inc., saying it is devoted primarily to ad-supported search while Microsoft has reinvented itself many times over. In a presentation at the Graduate School of Business at Stanford University, Ballmer said a truly entrepreneurial company invents something, builds a business around it and then starts the cycle again. But Google hasn’t yet emerged beyond ad-supported search, he said. For its part, he said Microsoft began by selling desktop software, particularly its Windows operating system, then created software to run servers, moved into the Internet space with its Internet Explorer Web browser and MSN Search, and more recently, moved into consumer electronics with its Xbox video gaming system. Google was not immediately available for comment.
IBM bares third-gen bi strategy
IBM has announced a new business intelligence strategy that makes the analysis of data stored in its data warehouse part of a business process. IBM officials described the new strategy as the “third generation” of data warehousing — query and reporting represented the first phase, and online analytical processing the second. Core to IBM’s dynamic warehousing effort is a new version of the DB2 Warehouse based on the DB2 9 database, codenamed Viper. The new OmniFind Analytic Edition tool can be used to mine and analyze data in the DB2 Warehouse, and can analyze unstructured data in the warehouse, such as call centre and field technician notes.
Oracle extends support for SAP
Oracle has announced plans to extend the capability of its system management software to offer monitoring and management for SAP AG applications through a partnership with Nimsoft Inc. The company also unveiled Release 3 of Oracle Enterprise Manager 10g and new plugins for the product that enable it to manage third-party software. Oracle and Nimsoft are working jointly to integrate the NimBUS SAP R/3 plugin with Oracle Enterprise Manager 10G so customers can monitor and manage SAP applications. The plugin should be available in the second quarter of 2007, according to Nimsoft. All of this is part of Oracle’s plan to focus on making enterprise management one of its core product offerings not just for Oracle environments, but across IT systems with products from multiple vendors, said Oracle.
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